Compound agitator for flotation separators



March 3, 1931- w. E. ENDREZZE COMP OUND AGITATOR FOR FLOTATION SEPARATQRS Filed Aug. 8, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l 11/ I I 11, 11111111 lllr March 3, 1931. w 5 ENDREZZE 1,795,113

COMPOUND AGITATOR FOR FLOIATION SEPARATORS Filed Allg- 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 21 wemor Attorney March 3 1931.

w. E. ENDREZZE 1,795,113

comouun AGITATORFOR FLOTATION SEPARATORS 3 Filed Aug-. 8. 1927 3 Sheets-Shet 3 Inventor V WWW/ r fye/w Lin/w zz 14 ztomqy Patented Mar. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE .WILLIAM EUGENE ENDREZZ E, OE BUTTE, MONTANA COMPOUND AGITATOB FOR FLOTATIONSEPARATORS,

Application filed August a, 1927. Serial No. 211,464.

This invention :relates to agitators for separating machines of the flotationxtype and adapted particularly for use 'in connection with the separation of minerals and has for MB a-principa'l obj ectito provide a compound mechanical and air agitator for use in the separation process.

Another object is toarrange 'a stationary air agitator :for use in .connection with machines of this character and which may be usedeither independently of or in conjunction with amechanical agitator, said station ary air: agitator comprising an air chamber havingits walls formed of foraminous material through which the air may. be discharged into the body of mineral to be treated and arranging the Walls of said compartment in a vertical position so as to prevent the collection of particles of the mineral thereon and thus insure the continuous and free passage of air through the walls ofsuch compartment. 7

A further object is to provide a mechanical agitator adapted to be used in combination with-the stationary air agitator and including arotatably mounted .impelling device arranged adjacent the intake ports of the separator and adapted to force the material received therein against reflecting plates whereby to distribute .thematerial in an upward direction againsteach sideof the stationary air agitator for treatment thereby.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus of this character of simple and practical construction, eflicient and reliable in 1 performance, which is capable of being maintained in operative position over a prolonged period without necessitating the care of an attendant, which maybe readily installed in operative position upon conventional types of separators without necessitating any changes or alterations in the construction thereof, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended. Other objects and advantages-reside in the special construction and combination of the various elements forming the invention, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view with parts shown in section of a separating machine equipped with a plurality of air agitators constructed in accordance with one form-of my invention. j

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional viewtherethrough.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional .viewthrough another type of separator, and illustratingthe .use of my combinedmechanical and air agitator therewith.

Figures is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the combined mechanical and air agitator.

. Figure 6 is a plan view of the impeller.

Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the air agitator compartments.

'Figure8 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. :9 is a vertical sectional view through 3 one of the single air agitator compartments showing the manner of retaining the canvas or other fabric aroundthe sides thereof, and, Figure 10 is a sideelevational view thereof showingthe clamping members for the upper and lower edges of the canvas.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 represents a mineral separation apparatus of the flotation type of a simpleconstruction comprising a substantially rectangular separator container indicated generally at 5, open at its top, with a pulp intake launder 6 arranged at one end and a pulp discharge box 7 and pulp discharge junction box8 arranged at its opposite end with'froth launders .9 formed-at each side thereof and extending longitudinally of the separator. Uponthe-bottom of the container 10 I arrange a plurality of stationary air agitators 11, arranged longitudinally of the container and extending from end to end thereirnsaid agitators comprising a rectangular'frame 12 as indicated in Figure 9 of the drawing, including the rigid top and bottom sections indicated at 13 and 14 respectively supported by vertical braces 15 .and

about .the'side :walls of which is arranged a sectionof canvas 16 or like foraminousmater al and secured on the frame at its-upper and lower edgesby a clamp member 17. The

edges of the plates 13 and 141 are provided with horizontal grooves 18 with the clamps 17 having their inner faces provided with ribs 19 adapted to seat within said grooves whereby to force the upper andlower edges of the canvas 16 within the same whereby to securely retain'thecanvas, in a vertical position at thesides of the agitator. The supports are also provided with threaded sockets 20 at suitable spaced intervals and adapted to threade'dly receive screws 21 an ranged to secure stripsQQ extending ertically on the outer walls of'th'e cam' a's' as illustrated in Figure 5.1 y

As more clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing the base of the container 5 is formed into a substantially trough shaped compartment 23 the air agitators 11 being arranged in 'a 'row extending longitudinally along the base thereof. The top of the'agitatorcarries a hood 24- of a peaked formation adapted'to prevent the collectionof sediment or particles of the mineral thereon. An airfeed pipe-25 is disposed beneath the separatorhavin'g air'in-take pipe sections 26 communicating with each of the agitators 11; The feed pipe is provided with suitable air valve regulating keys 27. 7'

In the operation of "this feature of the invention, the mineral pulp is fed throughthe pulp inlet 6 into the trough 23 of the sepafrator at the base'of which the same comes into contact with the air discharged through the air agitators 11; This air being discharged into the mass of material forms air bubbles'through which the'reagent oils and minerals within the pulp clings and as the same rises to thesurface through the buoyancy of theair a froth is formed which overflows into the trough launders 9 where it is sprayed'to break the air bubbles and conveyed through discharge pipes 28 to'a suitablerecept'acle for'washing and separating the mineral from the water after which the mineral is' dried-for shipment to the refinery.

In addition to-the air agitator for use in separating 'th'e-'mineral, I mayalso employ dially therein, the impeller being open at its upper and lowersides and also having ports 35 'extendingfhorizontally through the walls thereof. Abovethe impeller in spacedrela tion therefrornfis afdeflector 'plate"36 -arranged for'ro'tation upon the shaft together with the'iinpeller and against the under side of which the material from the blades34 is discharged and deflected outwardly therefrom. V

When employing the use of a combined mechanical and air agitator of this type, the

pulp is fed into the trough shaped compartment 23 of the separator through a feed pipe 37'at'the base thereof. and directly beneath the agitator. The pulp is thoroughly'agitat ed bythe blades i lin driving the same "against thedfiector 36 and throwing the tator ll is held. in a suspendedposition with in thesep arator by meansLofthe shaft housing 38 tl1ro-ugh which thesh'a'ftBO extends, said shaft also extendingverticallythrough the'air agitator frame 11 for" operating the impeller-29 beneath'the same, the upper end of the shaft housing 38 being formed with flanges lO'for attaching to oneof the upper frame-members 31. Air feedz'pipesi lliex tend through the upper end'of the, air agitator 1'1 to'iwithin the samev and communicating with theair supply pipe 42 arranged above theseparator. :In this. form-oftheirt vention theupper and lOWGI- QIldSGf the air agitator 4C3 andla respectively are of a cone shapedv formation ektending outwardly at each end whereby to prevent the accumulati on of sediment of mineral particles thereon: The frame for the air agitator is also of cylindrical formation so as to enableithe pulp to travel upwardly against the sides thereof in a moreiiniform and even manner. a V

As shown in'Figures/Z and 8 ofthe drawing the air agitator maybe formed into plurality of compartments when used in connection'witha separatorof the type as shown in Figure? 1; This form ofsthe air agitator may comprise any suitable number of compartments, the: present embodunent of the invention disclosingan agitator formed of three of such"compartments each having an air feed pipe 45 extending through the base thereof fordischarging air-through the vertical walls 16 which are formed of sections of canvas or like fo-raminous material in accord ance with the construction thereof ashereto fore'eri plainedf Theupper and lowerclampthereof through which the air isdischarged into the mass of pulp, thus permitting more air to belused during the separating process.

As the sides of theagitator through which the air 1s discharged is ina verticalu posi- I tion, the heavy condensate cannot settle therenous material thereon forming an on causing uneven agitation or obstructing the passage of the air from the agitator. The device therefore requires very little attention during the operation thereof and enables the separation to proceed in a more expeditious and economical manner.

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible of various changes in the construction and combination of the various elements forming the same, without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims, and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

I claim 1. In combination, a flotation agitator supporting frame having a covering of foramienclosed air compartment therein, means for supplying air within the compartment for discharge through the walls thereof, said walls being arranged in a vertical position and a mechanically operated agitator carried at the lower endof the frame and'adapted to urge the material under agitation upwardly past and outside of the walls of the compartment.

2. In combination, a separator comprising a container, pulp intake and discharge means therefor, and an agitator for the pulp comprising a frame having a covering of foraminous material at each vertical side thereof, air supply means communicating therewith adapted to discharge the air through the sides thereof into the pulp, an impeller rotatably mounted beneath said frame, a deflector in-' terposedbetween the impeller and the frame against which to force the pulp for deflecting the same outwardly and upwardly past the sides of the frame and a rotatable shaft operatively connecting said impeller.

3. An air discharge. container for flotation separators comprising a frame composed of upper and lower frame members, vertical supports therefor adapted to secure the members in spaced relation, the outer edge of said members having a horizontal groove formed therein, a covering of foraminous material for this frame, a covering retaining band disposed in clamping position about the cover at the edges of said member, and

said band provided with a rib adapted to force a portion of the cover material into sald groove, and means for feeding an 1nto 7 said container for discharge through the walls thereof.

4. An airdischarge container for flotation separators comprising a frame composed of upper and lower frame members, vertical supports therefor adapted to secure the members in spaced relation, the outer edge of said members having a horizontal groove formed therein, a covering of foraminous material for the frame, a cover retaining band disposed in clampingposition about the cover at the edges of said members, and said band provided with a ribadapt'edto force apo'r tion' of the l eove'r material in'to said groove, meansffor feeding air into said container for discharge throughthe walls thereof, and means "for supporting a mechanically operated a'git a tor beneath the frame member and arranged to "direct a" current of fluid iup wardly past the outsideof the walls of said container, f

5. A flotation device, comprising a frame composed-of up-per and lower frame members, vertical supportstherefor adapted to securesaid members in spaced relatiom a covering biforaminous material disposed about said frame members forming an enclosed air-compartment therein having the outer-surface of its walls exposed to the mineral under treatment and means for feeding air into said compartment for discharge through the vertical side walls thereof and operable to maintain said vertical walls free from the accumulation of mineral thereon.

6. A flotation device comprising a pulp container, a rectangular frame composed of of said compartment having its inclined surfaces arranged whereby to prevent accumulation of sediment thereon, said compartment being divided into a plurality of individual air chambers and means for feeding air into each of said chambers for discharge through the foraminous walls thereof.

7 A. flotation device comprising a frame of cylindrical formation composed of upper and lower annular frame members, vertical supports therefor adapted to secure the members in spaced relation, a central vertical support of tubular construction providing a shaft housing, a shaft extending therethrough, an agitator mounted at its lower end, a covering of foraminous material about said frame forming an enclosed air compartment therein, a cone shaped cover for the upper and lower portions of the compartment and means for feeding air into said compartment for discharge through the foraminous material forming the vertical walls thereof.

8. A rotary agitator for flotation machines comprising a horizontally supported annular member, port holes extending horizontally through the sides thereof, radially disposed blades terminating at said port holes and having their surfaces disposed angularly from a horizontal plane, a deflector plate disposed above said blade in spaced relation "therefrom and connected for rotation there-.

;,With and a dritie shaft forming suspension ,means for the agitator Within said machine,

7 tank of, pu1p,a vertical drive shaft extendv e 9. In combination, an enclosed air 'discharge 'c'ontainer;having-vertical side Walls formed of foraminous-material, means, for suspending said air container submerged in a ing through said air container, anirnpeller attached at its lower end "for agitating the pulp beneath the air container and means for feeding air into said air container for discharge through thevertical Walls thereof whereby to aerate the pulp above said impeller. I

. IntestimonyI whereof I aflix my signature.

tmLL e j E. DBE ZE-' 

